As an avid mountain biker, Marius Hjelmervik wanted to work on a bike related design for his final student project at the School of Architecture in Arhus, Denmark (where he studied Industrial Design). “Modern bicycles really look good, and they work better than ever,” he said. “The way design and engineering work together in a perfect symbiosis really appeals to the designer in me.” He didn’t want to create just another bike though. After working a bit with handicap aids during his education, Marius became frustrated with the fact that many of the products, though well engineered, “look like something out of a hospital from the 60′s”. With his final project, he set out to create an off-road hand cycle that “looks like a modern bike, with great quality and rider experience, but doesn’t cost a year worth of income.”
Throughout his entire project, Marius worked closely with handbike builders from all over the world including Mike Augspurger at One-Off Handcycles (USA), and Per Bisgaard from Wolturnus A/S (Denmark). He also received valuable input on his concept from elite handcycling athletes including Jake O’Connor and Seth Arseneau from the US, and Ebbe Blichfelt from Denmark.
Marius named his design ‘Forzer’, which comes from Force, but also the Danish word “forcer” for overcoming obstacles. The Forzer is made from aluminum, and has a theoretically calculated weight of 13.3kg (29.3 lbs). It is based on tadpole construction (two front wheels and one rear wheel), and the front wheels have independent suspension with 120mm of travel. The rear wheel uses a simple single pivot design with 150mm of travel for rider comfort. Marius points outs that “the steering principle is based on Ackermann steering Geometry, and there is both kingpin inclination and caster angle designed into the frontend.”
Marius hopes next to build a working prototype and possibly put his design in production. For a run of 1000 or more units, and with parts made in China, he believes the retail price tag could be around $2000 (depending on the components used). In his final design, Marius chose to use as many standard bicycle parts as possible, keeping the price low and allowing the rider “the opportunity to modify, “pimp” and maintain his/her bike.”
See more renderings of the Forzer below. Nice work, Marius!
Could a handcrank be installed on a standard mountain bike?
How difficult would it be to attach a hand crank to a regular mountain bike to make it a front and rear drive bike?
In other words is it possible to install a hand crank on the handle bar to convert an upright mountain bike to a two wheel drive machine?
Well, i would guess it is possible. Most roadgoing handbikes have drive on the single front wheel. That is also the same principle used on wheelchair handbike attachments
@ E I’m not a designer, but just from messing around with bikes I’d guess it would be easy to mount, but very difficult to control – on most mountain bikes, enough of your balance/weight is on the front wheel that you need both hands for control on anything but flat, smooth terrain. You could put the handcrank up even higher but then your hands are even further from the wheel – again leading to twitchy handling. You’d probably want to start with a more upright design (like a hybrid or omafiets/dutch bike) since those put much less weight on the front.
You Bet, You got the money I’ve got the design. I have a dual drive in my shop. Can build you an adapter to your mountain bike. facebook-HandBike America
The rear suspension pivot point is in the completely wrong place. The thing would stink-bug with every pedal stroke.
Not to mention the RD probably doesn’t have enough throw to suck up the change in chain length as this goes over bumps.
The RD HAS enough throw to suck it up. It only lenghtens the chain by 50mm, but its not really an issue, as the povit point WILL get lowered if a prototype is made.
That is true, but it looks good ;-P (I am, of course, aware of this issue…)
That is why you use a lock out shock in off position when climbing.
The real question is not the RD problem but could you or would you take it off road?
I have a 2 wheeler handcycle which we made and it works
Awesome bike! I have a Top End Force R and it is a nice racing bike but i live in the country with alot of gravel roads. When could it go on the market?
Yes when could it go on the market? We live on Vancouver Island Canada. My girldfriend could use a well design bike like this.
Aaron and Roger, thank you very much for the positive feedback guys. Unfortunatly the producer I had an agreement with, decided to pull out in the last minute due to “financial issues”. I will try to find somone else to help me out, but I cannot promise anythin at this point.
I would really like a bike like this too. I think it would sell well, I could go biking with my son…..try some US manufacturer, like Quickie or Coulors maybe Top End….
@Carrie, keep an eye on a Colorado-based company called ReActive Adaptations (http://www.reactiveadaptations.com). They’ve got a bike with a similar recumbent rear-wheel drive design… and are building me one as we speak.
Alright Marius, Thats to bad I hope you stick to it and dont give up. Its the first comfortable looking off road Ive seen that you dont lay on your chest to pedal. I live in Minnesota, U.S. And hope to see this on the market. Nice work, good luck.
An adjustable BB on a pivot would be nice. A lower BB would give the rider a better position, mechanical and physical advantage. Great concept especially the projected weight.
Looks great , Light weight compared to other off roaders and more comfortable looking, hope this goes into production ! Great design
. I have a force R but would love a bike to go off road
Looks nice Marius,
I am moving in the direction to make a offroad handcycle and would be interested in making a prototype for you. Perhaps a joint venture.
Chris
Hey Chris,
I would be very interested in getting further with this project. Please contact me on marius(a)hjelmervik.dk and we can discuss the venture further.
Marius
I have an investor interested in this design. Colorado based
Hi again Mark. This sounds interesting. I am currently in dialogue with Chris Peterson, but please send me a mail on marius(a)hjelmervik.dk with more information.
Marius
Hi Marius – The renderings looks great. I’ve been working on my prototypes for over a year now. There’s a lot to think about in terms of drive train, seating position, suspension and much more. Looks like you have a good start.
Hi Jake. I have followed the progress on your bike, and it looks very cool. I hope to get my own on the market soon, as I am currently working on my own prototype, but as you mention, there is a lot to do and making a bike on a computer, and one in real life, is far from the same. The prototype is coming along nicely though, and as I said, I hope it will hit the market soon. (P.S. thank you again for the input during the making of this school project
)
Hi Marius, I’ve spent a lot of time off road using a Varna ll handcycle. Works quite well until you come to gravelly hills,then lack of traction from the front drive wheel becomes an issue.
I look with interest at your creation, with its rear wheel drive it looks as though it would resolve that issue. Hope you get the bike lauch up and running.
Mick
Hi Mick. Thank you for the interest. As i just posted above, I hope, and work towards, getting it on the marked soon. I cannot promise anything regarding launch date when/if the deal I am working on gets trough, but with a working prototype, I am at least one huge step closer. Stay tuned
Hi Marius.
It is south Korea here.
It is the cycle that I look for..
It is a cycle to just match the Korean topography.
When does it release it.?
May I make it directly.?
Can it purchase it in prototype.?
best regard.
Hi mate. I’m very glad to see the interest for my design extends all the way to Korea. I cannot give you a release date yet, as there still is some paperwork to be done before the contract I am working on gets settled, but I am getting there, and I hope to get the prototype done and tuned by the end of 2011.
Can one buy the Forzer off road hand to bike?
Hey Pana. I am currently working on getting it on the market. More info will come when I have a deal up and running.
Hey Marius, any further luck with the prototype? I would buy one tomorrow! What’s the ETA looking like for getting out to the public? Jeff
Hi Jeff, Sorry for my late reply.
The prototype is getting along nicely. I did a long trip on it a few weeks ago. My original production partner seems to have dropped out, as I have not heard from him for many months, so I am currently looking for a new investor/partner for manufacturing. I am doing everything I can in order to get this on the market!
Hello Marius, Great looking design. I am interested and would buy one today. Any time frame as to when they will be available? Jim
Hi Jim.
Thanks for the nice comments!
As I told Jeff above, I am still working on it, to get it on the market. The interest in the project has been overwhelming, and I will do all in my power to get it realized, soon rather than later.
Lo felicito por su diseño del triciclo Forzer.Quiero saber si estaria dispuesto a venderme los planos para poder fabricarlos en mi pais Colombia S.A. Es el prototipo preciso para nuestros terrenos.
Hola Hernando,
Gracias por tu post.
No hablar o escribir español, por lo que se traduce google.
Cuando la moto se pone en el mercado, tengo la intención de que sea disponible a nivel mundial.
Hey Hernando,
Thank you for your post.
I do not speak or write spanish, so this is google translate.
When the bike gets on the market, I plan to make it available worldwide.
Any updates about the availability?
I love the simplicity and the fact that your legs remain straight the whole time your cycling – great for anyone whose legs spasm alot and shake around!
Also the fact that you can strap our torso to the seat – great for anyone with limited balance/lower limb mobility!
Drop me an email with any updates on the availability!
Cheers!
Hi Andrew,
Im glad you like it. I spendt every day for over 6 months on the design itself to make it as user friendly and “clever” as possible, so to hear you like it makes me glad. I do not have your e-mail adress, but feel free to drop me a line on marius@hjelmervik.dk and I will keep you updated.
felicitaciones,siga persistiendo que es una muy interezante idea y un proyecto bastante necesario.
Dear Sir,
I have a disabled brother and I would love for him to join me biking. We would love to have one of this kind of hand-cycle bikes for him to develop his back and hand muscles. I would like to know, how much is such bikes and do you deliver up to the Philippines? Thanks
Hi Marius,
what about your project to sell this offroad handcycle ?
it looks great, simply genius ! and what about the price ,
i live in french alps, so it would be a good iopportnunity to test it !
Denis
Is this bike on the market yet. Most posts are from 2011. Looking for something like this.
Not sure if this one is on the market but its not an original design as such. Reactive Adaptions make a recumbent mountain handbike. M5 and Greenspeed have been making handcycles like this for years.
Hey guys. Thanks for the kind words and the interest! I am still working on getting it on the market, but it has proven not to be as straight forward as I had hoped. I am now in dialogue with a individual that seems to be very interested, and professional, so I have high hopes. The design has also developed quite a bit since this article was posted. I have made a prototype and based on that, I have made changes that hopefully will making it even better, more stable and lighter. I am now closer than ever. That being said, there is still a lot to be sorted before it is production ready.
J’adore le design du FORZER, mais est-il possible d’adapter ce tadpole pour un non-handicapé, c’est à dire rendre l’utilisation du pédalier et à la place des manivelles, une sorte de guidon.Actuellement sur le marché, les “tricycle” sont trop légèrement amorti, ou en 4 roues.